Folding crate



NOV. 28, 1933. w R. w L 1,937,452

FOLDING CRATE Filed Oct. 6, 1930 Jvvuwwkw Wad/711,13. mile Gama/ Patented Nov. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES FOLDING CRATE William Richard Application October 6,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to shipping crates and has for its primary object to provide an improved type of collapsible shipping crate that is cheap to manufacture, and when folded for return shipment occupies the minimum amount of space.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved collapsible shipping crate such that when folded will permit of other similar crates being piled or stacked, one upon the other to any desired height in the carrier, thus conserving space in the carrier for the shipment of other crates or other merchandise.

'A further object of this device, is to provide means for locking the crate in its open position as well as looking the same in its folded position ready for reshipment.

A still further object of this invention, is to provide a crate design which is susceptible of being built of aluminum, metal or wood strips, depending upon the service in which the crate is to be used.

With these and other objects in view, which will be more readily apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully pointed out, illustrated and claimed.

It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which this invention belongs, that the same is susceptible to some structural changes and modifications without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, but a preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a plan View of my improved collapsible crate, shown in its open position, as it would appear when ready to receive such articles as potatoes, apples, oranges or peaches.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the open crate shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the crate shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing and illustrates the manner in which the sides are folded down when the crate is in its folded or collapsed position.

Fig. 4 illustrates the crate as it appears with its sides folded down into position and the ends being folded into position.

Fig. 5 shows a plan view as the crate appears in its folded position.

Fig. 6 showsan edge view of the folded crate shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing.

Fig. '1 shows the slot in one of the side and bottom members, provided for the crate locking means.

Fig. 8 shows an enlarged view of one corner Wiley, Altoona, Pa.

1930. Serial No. 486,834

of the crate with the locking means in position for holding the crate open.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawmg.

In carrying out the objects of this invention I provide a crate base designated by the numeral 10, which consists, in the preferred construction, of a plurality of wood or light metal slats or strips 11, attached to transverse rectangular elements 12. These transverse strips 12 not only provide means for spacing and holding in position the slats or strips 11 but also form means for hinging the ends 13 of the crate, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing. The ends 13 of the crate are hinged upon the transverse rectangular strips 12, each of which are the same height and thickness, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

The sides 14 and 15 of the crate, are each hinged likewise to permit each to swing into the position it occupies when folded.

The side 14 is hinged to the outermost longitudinal bottom strip or slat 16. The hinge 17 being positioned on the strip 16, a distance from the edge of the crate equal to the thickness of the upright side strip 18; this position being necessary, such that the side strip 18, when the crate is open, will not extend beyond the end of the end strips 12. This provision being necessary in order that the crate may be pushed one against the other when being shipped with merchandise therein.

The opposite side of the crate is provided with a longitudinal strip 19, positioned upon the outer bottom slat or strip 20, and is secured thereto by means of nails or screws, The height of this strip 19 is equal to the combined thickness of the longitudinal strips 21 and the vertical strips 18, to permit the second mentioned side of the crate to be readily folded upon the first mentioned, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing.

Fig. 1 illustrates the manner in which the vertical strips 22 and 23 of the respective sides of the crate are positioned on the longitudinal strips of the crate sides in disalined relation to permit the sides of the crate to fold inward into compact relation, one above the other.

The ends 13 are each hinged upon the end strips 12. The height of each of these strips being equal to three times the thickness of one of the longitudinal side strips. The side and end strips or slats being in the preferable construction of equal thickness and width.

With the crate in its open position and ready to receive merchandise, some means are required to hold the ends as well as the sides in an upright position, and to this end I provide a locking means, which consists essentially of an Lshaped wire 27, having an offset leg 28 bent at right angles to the foot of the L, and adapted to engage the underside 29 of the top longitudinal strip 30 when in the locked position and the crate open or unfolded and set up. To provide for the most effective locking means the vertical side strip 31 provided with a. slot 32, which is engaged by the wire 2? as indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawing.

When the crate is folded with the top portion of the crate ends adjacent each other, as indicated in Fig. 6, the locking means which is carried by the crate ends are likewise brought ad jacent each other, and the crate is locked in its closed position by the same locking elements that lock the crate in its open position; the difference being in the manner the locking means is applied.

when. locking the crate in its fielded position, the locking wires 27, which face each other when the crate is iolded, are each dropped through a 33. positionedin the center of the outside bottom slot 34 as indicated in Fig. 7 of the drawing. The locking wires 27 are each pulled toward, their respective ends of the crate and intagroove 35 also cut in the member ii leaeqinustrated.

unfolding the crate, or setting it in position. to IQGBHJG merchandise to be ipped, the ioflowins: operationssre performed:

firew'lhe crate. is placed on the floor, with the bottom surface 36 resting thereon.

seconds 'lhe ends 25 and 26 are each unlocked from the bottom member 34, after which the end 25 is raised such as to occupy a vertical position, the end 26 is likewise raised, permittingthe to he raised into position after whichtheside 38 is elevated into position. The ends are then locked to the side members, and thecrate isready: for use.

Ham. thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to be secured by Letters Patent 1. A foldable box or crate comprising a bottom, side and end elements hinged to the bottom for swinging movements between collapsed and erected positions, the side elements each being inclusive of a longitudinally extending top rail and vertically extending end cleats, the upper ends oi the cleats, being cut email d provide grooves between their upper endrprtlois and the top rails, respectively, and a pair of hook shaped fasteners pivoted, respectively, to upper corner portions of each end element, each fastener comprising a straight inner end portion to be'swmig into the related groove of the related side elementwheh the side and end elements are erected, and a right angularly extending portion to lie st the inner edge of the related cleat when the inner end portion is disposed in the related groove.

2. A ioldable. box or crateasset fort-b. inclaim 1 in which each fastener comprises a strahht inner end portion to be swung into the related groove of the related side element when the side and end elements are erected, a.- right angularly. extendiogintermediate portion to lie asainstthe inner edge of the related cleat and against a face of'the, related top rail of the related sidev element when the inner end portion is disposed in the related groove, and terminal, portiouextending at sulxitantially right angles to said intermediate portion to underlie the related top rail when the inner end portion is disposed'in the; related groove. 7' 7 3. Aioldable box or crate as set forth mclaim 1 in which the bottom of the oratecis provided medially and at each side thereof with a 1cngitudinally extending slot medially opening through the edge of the bottom to receive the outer end portions of the fasteners at re lated sides of the end elements when the side and endelements are collapsed,

WILLIAM RICHARD WILEY. 

